Leg 1 -  Burkett Park > Burkett Trail > Trailhead to Trailhead (N) > Flintstone (N) > Cougar Overlook > park road (W) > Trailhead to Trailhead (S) > River Bend Trail (S) > 5 Points Junction      4.8 miles

Leg 2 -  5 Points Junction > Turkey Creek Trail > Potts Creek Trail (ENE) > Burkett Trail > Burkett Park    4.0 miles

Temps started at 75, ended at 91.  Sunny, slightly humid at first but dried out some.  NO WIND for first leg then 0-5mph SE intermittent breeze.

Trace the route on the park map and you'l see why the route looks like a balloon on a string.

Easy hike along dry and for the most part, easy to see and traverse mostly rocky trails.  Last week we had more rain which did what it always does and washed away surface soil leaving more bare rocks of various sizes in the trails.  The benefit of the rain is the bee bush has bloomed again and in many places - the vanilla scent was very prevalent during the entire hike.  Deer have birthed litters of twins and I counted three sets.  The few bucks I saw have velvet covered antlers.  Cottontail and Jack rabbits were out as well.  Not too many birds although a few were spotted.  A few lizards scampered along the trails and lots of grasshoppers are out.  Prickly pear cactus have numerous tunas showing so with all the mesquite bean pods and cactus tunas, there should be a good food supply for awhile.  Not so much for the bugs as all the wildflowers are gone but the bee bushes are flowering.

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets available at Burkett Park.

Shade, info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are available at Cougar Overlook.  The bicycle repair station air pump is not working as of this date.

Water, shade, and info kiosk are available at 5 Points Junction.

Leg 1 -  North Parking > Bell's Trailhead > Shady Trail > Trailhead to Trailheaad (S) > Rocky Creek > Upper Big Hill > Badlands > River Bend Campground Road > River Bend Campground   3.4 miles

Leg 2 -  River Bend Campground > North Slick Rock > Upper Big Hill (N) > Park Fire Break Road (WNW) > Dinosaur Trail (N) > Bell's Trailhead > Park road to North Parking    3.1 miles

Temp started at 76, ended at 91.  Partly cloudy, SW breeze 7-15 mph, somewhat humid.

Improved trails from my last visit although one in particular (Lower Ghost Camp) is still not do-able.

All trails that I hiked on were dry and easy to traverse.  Park personnel have cleaned up Shady Trail so it is very nice to hike.  Animal activity was minimal although I saw two armadillos on the north side of the river where I had to park.  There are two entrances to the North Shore - one is on the south side of the river and is the where equestrians enter to the campground designed for them and their horses.  The other gate is on the north sideof the river and is the "main" gate.  Both gates are locked and to enter you need the current gate combo which should open both gate locks.  For whatever reason, this morning the combo did not open the equestrian gate I normally use so I had to use the other gate and park in a different area so I could cross over the dried river bed to access the northern trails.

Put a bit of a damper on the hike but it was do-able so no complaints.  Because of the damper, I did not go as far as planned and didn't go the route I intended so major trails have not been checked.

NOTES -

Water, shade info kiosk and a bicycle repair station are at or near Bell's Trailhead.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at the River Bend Campground.

SPECIAL NOTICE - CURRENTLY, NO HORSES ARE ALLOWED AT THE PARK DUE TO SCREW FLY INFESTATION.  CHECK WITH PARK PERSONNEL IF YOU DESIRED TO RIDE THE TRAILS WITH YOUR HORSE.

Leg 1 -  Playground parking area > Chaparral > Talley Valley > Horny Toad > Nature Trail > Lanky Lackey > WS to LL Connector > Birkett Park     3.4 miles

Leg 2 -  Burkett Park > Winding Snake > Chaparral > Playground Parking Area    3.1 miles

Temps started at 75, ended at 90.  Sunny with a few high wispy clouds.  Light SW breeze 0-5mph.

A very pleasant hike along dry and easy to traverse trails.  With the recent rains and the time of year, some vegetation is on the trails but nothing that would inhibit seeing what is on the trail itself.

Birds were out to include a Vermillion Flycatcher, Great Horned owls (photo attached), Mockers, various Sparrows and others.  Animals observed were deer, cottontail rabbits as well as a Jack Rabbit.  Reptiles were lizards and a three foot long coachwhip snake.  Insects are becoming more numerous to include cicadas.  As far as wildflowers, a few Mexican hats and some yellow daisy type flowers were the only things of color - all the cactus blossoms are gone.

NOTES -

Water, shade, info kiosk, toilets and a bicycle repair station are available at the Playground Parking Area.

Water, shade, info kiosk and dry toilets are available at Burkett Park.

SPECIAL NOTE - Both locations have the new water station installed but the water is not yet connected.  Water is available at both.